e-Bulletin no.10  14 Dec 2007

Short-cut to sections:-  Consultations | Publications | Scottish Government News Releases | News Releases | Recent Parliamentary Questions | Recent Parliamentary Answers | Motions, Debates and Bill Progress | Events   Training   Job Vacancies

Consultations

Draft Regulations on the Planning Hierarchy: Consultation Paper (SG 30/11/07)
This consultation paper seeks comments on the proposed hierarchy for planning in Scotland.
http://www.workwithus.org/CampaignHelper/EmailLinkRedirect.aspx?param=wAVMdZiiJeD%2bguHNLU1TDyyjygtoinUV

Back to Top

Publications

Technical Notes for the 2007 Spending Review (SG 30/11/07)
http://www.workwithus.org/CampaignHelper/EmailLinkRedirect.aspx?param=7M1xcnym3D7Fglak6fcBLQPZLFZyfXOa

Scottish Planning Series Planning Circular 8-2007: The Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 1999 (SG 30/11/07)
This Circular gives guidance on the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 1999 (SSI 1999 No.1) (referred to in this Circular as "the Regulations").
http://www.workwithus.org/CampaignHelper/EmailLinkRedirect.aspx?param=Xzmjps5IfyLmXgizDJ3FS61tIupZtw0U

Environmental Impact Assessment Directive: Questions and Answers (SG 30/11/07)
Offers a brief and basic introduction to the EIA Directive, the Regulations and planning authority responsibilities.
http://www.workwithus.org/CampaignHelper/EmailLinkRedirect.aspx?param=Uq5nIJH0OHQkGJXXJdKUkOwcViIxemcU

Scotland Rural Development Programme (SG 10/12/07)
SRDP Information Pack
http://www.workwithus.org/CampaignHelper/EmailLinkRedirect.aspx?param=sAVMqYgbc67k2QEVslpUPIPH4VxvGq5R

Scottish Government Environmental Performance: Annual Report 2006/07 (SG 1/12/07)
The 7th Annual Report of Environmental Peformance of the Scottish Government.
http://www.workwithus.org/CampaignHelper/EmailLinkRedirect.aspx?param=%2fRTnQEmpdJxrw5k9mYf0LFi4nBNDIBFp

Residential Mobile Homes in Scotland - Research Findings (SG 11/12/07)
This summary provides an up-to-date picture on the use of mobile homes as dwellings, examines the nature of the mobile home sector and aims to inform how future policy can be shaped.
http://www.workwithus.org/CampaignHelper/EmailLinkRedirect.aspx?param=XUtU4uowPU%2bd24J%2bsXaWCNqYyDZr6tCG

A Review of Existing Information for Scotland's Historic Environment Audit (Historic Scotland 11/12/07)
Historic Scotland has published a report detailing what we currently know about the state of the country's historic environment. The report, A Review of existing information for Scotland's Historic Environment Audit, is available from http://www.workwithus.org/CampaignHelper/EmailLinkRedirect.aspx?param=aRNrRw1SF58ex%2fBqBEw4vcPbbR32Kre1 and will form the basis for an ongoing programme of audit of the care, maintenance and required investment in the historic environment.
Key findings include: how much of our heritage is protected, the condition of our heritage, how the historic environment is managed and resourced, the benefits of the historic environment.
News release: http://www.workwithus.org/CampaignHelper/EmailLinkRedirect.aspx?param=TWWoh81%2fNu4hDZ4eyGtTSFAzYLUJgeBh

The Planning Bill (DCLG 28/11/07)
The Planning Bill was introduced on Tuesday 27th November. The legislation builds on the proposals set out in the Planning White Paper and introduces a new system for nationally significant infrastructure planning, alongside further reforms to the town and country planning system.
http://www.workwithus.org/CampaignHelper/EmailLinkRedirect.aspx?param=%2bx3OMa4SJFMC%2bWTVb8J7JzHvdoYHOG7v

Back to Top

Scottish Government News Releases

Energy efficiency of buildings (SG 12/12/07)
The report of an expert panel appointed to look at ways to make homes and buildings more energy efficient has been published. Among the 56 recommendations to Ministers are: Staged increases in energy standards for new buildings every three years to substantially reduce emissions; The aim of net zero carbon emissions for space heating, hot water, lighting and ventilation within the next ten years, if practical; The ambition of total-life zero-carbon buildings by 2030; Consideration of zero fees for building warrant applications where new buildings are to be significantly above the current energy standards.
http://www.workwithus.org/CampaignHelper/EmailLinkRedirect.aspx?param=ce33P3tIpkEASOryuzwITJmPk75OUPOr

Voluntary organisations (SG 30/11/07)
The Scottish Government intends to back an increasingly successful Third Sector. Finance Secretary John Swinney has explained how the 37 per cent increase in development funding in the draft Budget would help build a stronger and safer, healthier, fairer and greener Scotland. "Despite being on the receiving end of the worst financial settlement since devolution, we have decided to invest significantly in the third sector by substantially increasing funding."
http://www.workwithus.org/CampaignHelper/EmailLinkRedirect.aspx?param=MP%2beLShjjifj7NTKayvgKYd35H1r3tw4

Back to Top

News Releases

A+DS Launch 06/07 Annual Report (30/11/07)
Raymond Young CBE, Chair of Architecture + Design Scotland (A+DS), was at the CCA in Glasgow on St Andrew's day, along with A+DS Chief Executive Sebastian Tombs, to launch the organisation's 06/07 Annual Report. Speaking at the St. Andrew's day launch of the report Mr Young said: "There could be no better day than St. Andrew's day to emphasize that all of Scotland's people deserve the opportunity to live in well-designed places.  It is frankly unacceptable that we are still seeing developments which meet only the very lowest standards of design quality and where short-term profit is pursued at the expense of long-term community gain."
http://www.workwithus.org/CampaignHelper/EmailLinkRedirect.aspx?param=tiAT59Bfa61VktjYI3266NbtB0uONM9B

New housing estates miss out on community spirit (CABE 12/12/07)
A new CABE report reveals that although new homeoweners like their homes, almost half miss a sense of community spirit. A sense of place is based on an Ipsos MORI survey of over 600 residents from 33 new housing developments. It points to a qualit blindspot which suggests that housebuilders - and planners - need to work much harder to create a sense of place.
http://www.workwithus.org/CampaignHelper/EmailLinkRedirect.aspx?param=ELAC2Pbp59N68y6WQ4rEDC4NTaSLTchV

Back to Top

Recent Parliamentary Questions

Written questions awaiting answer are given below. See 'recent parliamentary answers' for new questions (raised since circulation of BEFS e-Bulletin 9) that have already been answered.

S3W-7499 Michael Matheson: To ask the Scottish Executive why the proposed minimum standards of open space within developments, as detailed in the consultation document on planning policy on physical activity and open spaces (SPP11), have not been included in the published SPP11. (SP 06/12/07)

S3W-7512 Rhoda Grant: To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address housing shortages in rural areas. (SP 06/12/07)

S3W-7526 Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to help to regenerate seaside and coastal towns. (SP 06/12/07)

S3W-7590 Johann Lamont: To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings are planned with housing organisations regarding Firm Foundations: The Future of Housing in Scotland and the strategic spending review. (SP 10/12/07)

S3W-7637 Jamie Hepburn: To ask the Scottish Executive what standard indicators it uses to monitor and evaluate PFI/PPP contracts. (SP 10/12/07)

S3W-7682 Bill Kidd: To ask the Scottish Executive whether new-build developments are required to include a quota of fully wheelchair-accessible homes. (SP 11/12/07)

S3W-7719 Patrick Harvie: To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it uses to determine whether a planning application is of national significance. (SP 11/12/07)

S3W-7774 Alasdair Allan: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for utilising empty housing in the highlands and islands, with particular emphasis on attracting a younger workforce to live and work in the Western Isles. (SP 13/12/07)

Back to Top

Recent Parliamentary Answers

S3W-7390? Alasdair Allan: To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are for legislation on the marine historic environment. (SP 04/12/07)
Answered by Linda Fabiani (04/12/07): The Scottish Government has formally withdrawn from the UK Heritage Protection Bill and will be legislating in the Scottish Parliament, probably as part of a Scottish Marine Bill. We will continue to keep in touch with the UK Government so that the future legislation fits well with any provisions in the rest of the UK.

S3W-7453 Robert Brown: To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been provided to the Cities Growth Fund in each year since its inception and how much has been transferred to each local authority for each of the next three years. (SP 05/12/07)
Answered by John Swinney (11/12/07): The following table details how much has been provided from the Cities Growth Fund in each year since its inception:
(for table visit: http://www.workwithus.org/CampaignHelper/EmailLinkRedirect.aspx?param=AOAnZOTdC4%2bNCfPwzaL2VFrsf%2fUKf5sd)
Under the concordat agreed between Scottish ministers and COSLA, the ring fence around the Cities Growth Fund will be removed from 1 April 2008, with the funding being absorbed into the main local government settlement. The Scottish Government will be providing local government in Scotland with record levels of funding over the period covered by the spending review 2008-11. The vast majority of the funding, including the funding previously provided from the Cities Growth Fund, will be provided by means of a block grant. It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities including the Scottish Government's key strategic objectives and manifesto commitments.

S3W-6639 Answered by Stewart Stevenson (03/12/07): The Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006 made new provision which, when implemented, will see the transfer of responsibility for neighbour notification of planning applications from the applicant to Planning Authorities. We will also implement measures to extend neighbour notification to notify owners, occupiers and neighbours of new site specific proposals in local development plans. On 31 October 2007 we published detailed proposals - including draft regulations - for implementing this change and others to the development planning system. We intend to issue a consultation paper in the near future on new development management procedures which will include detailed provisions on neighbour notification in relation to planning applications. Draft Regulations on Development Planning: Consultation is available on the Scottish Government web pages at:
http://www.workwithus.org/CampaignHelper/EmailLinkRedirect.aspx?param=VKUt0e4IcAdTyoxiImZSJR7LuVdlpXYe.
It is our intention to lay final regulations in respect of both development management and development planning before parliament by the end of 2008.

S3W-6640 Answered by John Swinney (29/11/07): We are currently developing, through the Community Council Working Group, a Model Community Council Scheme, Good Practice Guidance for both local authorities and community councils and a Code of Conduct for Community Councillors. We are also consulting stakeholders, through the same working group and through a series of meetings with people who have a particular expertise in empowering communities, on the potential for developing the role of community councils. We will consider whether there is a case for bringing forward legislation to modify the structure and operation of community councils following the completion of this work.

S3W-6738 Answered by Linda Fabiani (06/12/07): The budget for culture of £232.8 million on page 145 includes the budget of £4.3 million for major events and themed years. This is shown on page 79 under Europe and External Affairs. The figure of £181.7 million on page 80 also includes additional budget of £0.9 million on Gaelic that was previously included in the education budget.

S3W-6780 Answered by Stewart Stevenson (03/12/07): Scottish Ministers have a power, under planning legislation, to intervene by calling in planning applications for their own determination. This decision-making responsibility is taken over from planning authorities only where Ministers consider such action necessary.

S3W-6942 Answered by Stewart Stevenson (06/12/07): I have asked Dr Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows: Targets and timescales for reducing the carbon footprint of new buildings are currently under consideration. We appointed an Expert Panel to advise on a "Low Carbon Building Standards Strategy for Scotland". The report of the panel will be published before the end of the year.

S3W-6944 Answered by John Swinney (12/12/07): The information requested in respect of the buildings on the core estate of the Scottish Government is provided in the Scottish Government Environmental Performance Annual Report for 2006-07 which was published in December 2007, copies of which are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 44178). The information requested regarding agencies is not held centrally. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-6943 on 6 December 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.workwithus.org/CampaignHelper/EmailLinkRedirect.aspx?param=WoI2D1ufiLFWyiunYSU3sOSxHKhXsiMH.

S3W-6945 Answered by Stewart Stevenson (06/12/07): The role of the planning system in tackling climate change is already addressed in several Scottish Planning Policies including those on flooding, renewable energy and housing. It will also be addressed in the second National Planning Framework. The Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006 requires that work on the second National Planning Framework and local authority development plans be undertaken with the objective of contributing to sustainable development. The Scottish Government is also considering amendments to The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992 to allow more microrenewable equipment to be installed on existing residential buildings without the need to apply for planning permission. We intend to consult in the new year.

Back to Top

Motions, Debates and Bill Progress

Parliamentary debate on Woodland and Green Spaces (SP 12/12/07)
http://www.workwithus.org/CampaignHelper/EmailLinkRedirect.aspx?param=xSa4eK%2bIYf8AGYkUH0kGSbtieOc6mbJa

*S3M-1008 Michael Russell: The Benefits of Woodland and Greenspaces-That the Parliament recognises the value of the physical environment in promoting health and wellbeing; recognises the role that woodland and other greenspace plays in this through increased opportunities for physical activity, relaxation and social interaction in people's everyday lives, and calls on the environmental and health sectors to work together to further develop the contribution of woodland and other greenspace to Scotland's health. (SP 11/12/07)

*S3M-1002? Jamie Hepburn: True Cost of PFI-That the Parliament notes with concern the article entitled "Lifting the Lid on PFI", published in issue 43 of Scottish Left Review, which concludes that many PFI/PPP projects in Scotland, including projects in the Central Scotland parliamentary region, are being paid for on a one-for-the-price-of-two basis due to the massive returns accruing to the contractors, that local businesses are regularly squeezed out of the tendering process and that there is still not enough transparency in PFI/PPP contracts; believes that much more needs to be done to improve the availability of information and monitoring of the true cost of PFI/PPP projects, and considers that there should be a full-scale inquiry into the reality of PFI/PPP contracts across Scotland. (SP 10/12/07)

*S3M-1023 Stewart Stevenson: Climate Change Bill - UK Legislation-That the Parliament endorses the principle of introducing for the United Kingdom as a whole statutory targets and a related framework for action to mitigate climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions as set out in the Climate Change Bill, introduced in the House of Lords on 14 November 2007, and agrees that the provisions in the Bill which fall within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament should be considered by the UK Parliament. (SP 13/12/07)

Back to Top

Events

Back to Top

Training

Back to Top

Job Vacancies

Alba Conservation Trust - Temporary Project Organiser (Maternity Cover, 1 year fixed term, starting February 08)
Based in Edinburgh, Salary dependent on experience.  Full-time, although candidates wishing part-time or flexible working will be considered. 
Seeking an experienced Project Organiser with a degree in an appropriate building, surveying or architectural discipline and an interest in conservation.  With a proven track record in the building sector, particularly in project management, and a working knowledge of Scottish cultural and architectural history, you will demonstrate a keen interest in architectural detail as well as an understanding of the issues in fundraising for complex historic buildings projects.  
If you are interested, please Email a copy of your Curriculum Vitae to: una@conservationtrust.co.uk
Closing date is 14th January 2008

Offices to let
Edinburgh City Centre offices available to let in a historic building - Charity rates available to the not-for-profit sector. If you would like further information, or would like to view the space, please contact Audrey Dakin or Susan Buckham on director@ahss.org.uk or call us on 0131 557 0019.

Back to Top

Information in the Bulletin is extracted from a number of websites; including the Scottish Government (SG); the Scottish Parliament (SP); Architecture and Design Scotland (A+DS); Historic Scotland (HS); Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH); Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO); English Heritage (EH); Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE); Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG); Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS); Department of Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA); National Assembly for Wales (NAW); Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS); Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA). For further information, links are provided to the relevant documents.

An archive of back copies of the Bulletin is available on the BEFS website.  If you have any questions or comments on the above, or would like to submit information to be included, please get in touch with Jo Robertson jrobertson@befs.org.uk or call the BEFS Office on 0131 220 6241.